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'Plan to finance KMTP in offing'

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Ghulam Sarwar Khero, Secretary , Transport Department, Sindh, informed business community that a new Rs. 160 million financial plan is in the offing to finance Karachi Mass Transport Programme (KMTP).

Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Wednesday evening, he said, " It is not correct that the KMTP for Karachi has been shelved and added that Sindh government had already allocated its share of Rs 50 million in its budget 1999-2000.

He said that the financial close was placed on March 30, 2000 but due to prevailing circumstances the government was trying to get the date extended.

Replying to issues raised during welcome address by Abdul Sami Khan, Vice President KCCI, the transport secretary said Pakistan Railways was sustaining annual loss of Rs. 6 million on account of operating circular railway which was just 0.3 percent of total losses sustained by Railways per annum. Making plea of these losses the circular railway was closed without consulting Sindh government, he added.

He said on pursuance of Sindh government, Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf had decided during a meeting with Sindh government to revive circular railway.

He said that the government has decided to shift all 130 different inter-city bus terminal to open areas on Super Highway, National Highway and RCD highway.

He said 60 acres of land has already been allotted to shift oil tanker stand to Super Highway. The building has been completed having all the basic facilities.

He said that the government is trying its best to curb smoke emitting vehicles.

Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Traffic, informed the meeting that existing law did not permit to issue fitness certificates to more than six years old commercial vehicles.

He said now the present government is trying to evolve such a system that new big buses should be added in city transport and trying to organise the present transports so that they can ply their buses in proper way.

He said that the government has identified several plazas where the owners had converted parking space into stores and added that government has chalked out a plan to re-convert these stores into parking lots.

He said that the government has also decided to convert Railway Stadium, Faizur Rehman near Arts Council etc. into charged parking lot.

Welcoming the guests, Abdul Sami Khan said the traffic system in Karachi can be improved through concerted efforts of federal and provincial governments. The new system must not only include the movement of vehicles, but also the maintenance of roads, non-existence of encroachments, along with creation of traffic sense among the people and the drivers where there must be a complete cooperation and coordination among the relevant civic agencies.